Breadcrumb

William Douglas

Son of Sir William Douglas (d. 1733), 2nd Bart of Kelhead, and Helen Erskine (d. 1754), a half-sister of Boswell's mother Euphemia. Brother of John and Charles Douglas.

Life with Boswell

Boswell met him at John Douglas' Kelhead on October 6 and 7, 1762. He described him as a Catholic, "a delicate, quiet, religious creature, [who] must certainly be happy in another world, where I hope to meet him." On October 7, Douglas showed Boswell his room at Kelhead where "he has his books of devotion, and there does perform his penances and all the other rites of his severe religion. [...] We then went and took a walk. I was surprised to find him very cheerful and really facetious".